Fuze clips



Jan. 29, 1957 I J. STRANGE FUZE CLIPS Filed Jan. 15, 1954 K /o M I IN VEN TOR. Jaw/v fir/Pfl/VGE FUZE CLIPS John Strange, Cardiff, Wales, assiguor to Tinnernian Products Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 15, 1954, Serial'No. 404,353

4 Claims. or. 102-271 This invention relates to improved clip fasteners adapted for use with cord-like fuses.

In blasting operations, it is customaryto use a main or fast burning cord-like fuse for the purpose of initiating a number of explosive charges by means of branch or slow burning cord-like fuses, and it is an object of this invention to provide a simple clip fastener by means of which the main fuse and a branch fuse may be readily and expeditiously secured togetherin operative position for ignition of the branch fuse by the main fuse.

Briefly, my improved clip fastener comprises a base or body portion having means thereon for positioning a branch fuse with respect thereto and having other means thereon for securing the main fuse thereto, so that the main fuse extends across the end of the branch fuse in contact with such end so that the main fuse may ignite the branch fuse. The clip embodies a one-piece member of sheet metal having the fuse-engaging portions struck upwardly therefrom in the form of resilient arms which operate to retain the fuses onto the fastener and in operative relationship to each other.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a fastener embodying the present invention; Fig. '2 is a front elevation as viewed on the lines 22 in Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on a plane indicated by the lines 33 in Fig. l.

The clip fastener made in accordance with the present invention is preferably formed from a blank of resilient sheet material having a base which has fuse holding means comprising spring arms which extend upwardly from the base, together with a positioning device by means of which the main and branch fuses may be quickly and accurately positioned with respect to each other. To accomplish such purpose, one end of the body portion is off-set as at 11 to provide a shoulder 12, and the off-set portion has a pair of arms 13 and 14 struck upwardly therefrom, each of which is shaped to receive and retain a main fuse, indicated by the broken lines 15,

To position the branch fuse, indicated by the broken lines 20, I provide a pair of resilient arms 21 and 22 which extend generally transversely of the arms 13 and 14, and which are struck upwardly from the base in such location that the branch fuse will lie approximately along the median longitudinal line of the base.

To position one end of the branch fuse in abutting engagement with the main fuse, I provide a cut-out portion 25 in the base before the off-set portion 11 is formed therefrom. Thus, the shoulder 12 formed by the offset, terminates short of the branch fuse as at and 31, whereby the end of the branch fuse may be moved into a position where it will abut the main fuse, as is shown in Fig. 1.

Each fuse holding arm, as shown in the drawings, comprises an inner portion which extends approximately at right angles to the blank as is shown for example at 35, an intermediate portion 36 which is inclined somewhat towards the blank, and an outer outwardly flaring portion 37. Preferably the main fuse arms are parallel to each other and are disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal median line of the blank, whereas the branch fuse arms extend transversely of the blank and are positioned in parallel relationship to each other, between the offset portion and the opposite end of the blank. In addition, the'branch arms are disposed generally at right angles to the main fuse arms and are so arranged as to hold the branch fuse between the main fuse arms.

The circular opening 25 formed in the blank is disposed in alignment with the branch fuse holding arm and has a part thereof in alignment with the'main fuse holding arms, while the line of the shoulder 12 intersects the circular opening. Thus, the circular opening'provides the shoulder portion with a cut-out which is centrally disposed with'respect to the main fuse holding arms, and extends somewhat into the main portion of the base. The depth of the offset is preferably less than half of the diameter of the branch fuse, whereby the branch fuse may be pressed against the abutment while the body of the fuse is forced underneath the arms 21 and 22. When all of the branch fuses have been secured to clip fasteners in this manner, the main fuse is then inserted beneath the arms 13 and 14 of each fastener, whereupon such arms will firmly secure the fuse to the base of the fastener with the main fusein contact with the ends of the respective branch fuses, whereby the main fuse may ignite the various branch fuses in turn.

An advantage of the present invention is that the fasteners may be quickly and economically formed from sheet material with a minimum of waste, and may be quickly attached for use. In addition, the branch fuses, if desired, may be connected to the explosive charges and to the clip fasteners prior to removal of the explosive charges from storage.

1. A clip fastener for cord-like fuses comprising, a base having a first pair of spring arms extending generally in a longitudinal direction of the base and adjacent one end thereof and adapted for holding a first fuse, said base having a second pair of spring arms extending generally in a transverse direction of the base and disposed intermediate the first set of arms and the opposite end of the base, the second pair of arms being located in alignment along a longitudinally extending median line of the base and being adapted to hold a second fuse, said one end of the base being offset towards the first set of spring arms to provide a transverse shoulder in alignment with said first set of arms, said base having a cut-out portion intersecting the transverse shoulder intermediate said first arms and in alignment with the other pair of arms, said transverse shoulder and cut-out portion co-operating to provide a generally curved shoulder portion adapted to act as an abutment for locating the end of the second fuse in engagement with the first fuse,

2. A clip fastener for cord-like fuses comprising a base of sheet-like material having an offset portion thereon, a first pair of transversely aligned resilient arms extending from the offset portion and adapted to receive and retain a fuse thereon, said offset portion having a cutout therein intermediate the arms, and said base having a second pair of arms extending upwardly therefrom in longitudinal h 'i tt 's s t p se n s is i i ye. 2 991 pair of longitudihally aligned resilient arms struck upwardly from the other end ofit'he base, said last-mentioned arms: beinggadapted te -receive and: retain av second fuse ht Q i1 in ax s d r n mr l pa a le the longitudinals side of the base, and said ofi-set portion havinga cut-.outintermediate the first p air of; arms the W 6 fj -sm f t a se v d: shgul nq t n adapted to act aslan abutment for locating the ndof'the second fu se for engagementwith the' first fuse. V

4. A el iiifastene r for cord-like fuses eomprisinga substantially rectanginar base having-afirstpair of arms extending parallel to each other and inz'a. general longitudinal direction of thebase andiadapted to support a first ffuse, said base having-a second ,set of armseigtending generally in a.direetiqn transxierselyvof the base and parallel to each other and ad apted'to hold a second fuse with its axisdis posed piarallehto a longitudinal. line of thebase, each arm of said first-set of arm s b eing positioned on opposite sides Q said l a ti di alli 9 t n-bas c wl s and? u out cooperating with said shoulder te -provide a curved airman w 5. 19214?! RQttiQn ri ts nn s i ts thefirst se of a msuandin alignment with the second set of arms along said longitudinal base line, said curved shoulder portion adapted to coact as an abutment for the second fuse which is positioned beneath said second set of arms, said curved shoulder having a maximum height above the base less than the diameter of the second fuse which said second set of arms will accommodate whereby. the first and second fuse may be brought into abutting engagement.

References Cited in the file ofthis fiatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

